Popular Models & New Features of Cisco ISR G2 Router

Cisco ISR G2 was launched in 2009 and is part of the Cisco Borderless Network Architecture system. According to Cisco, ISR G2 routers are built to accommodate the need for branch offices to use videoconferencing and virtualization services and transport other kinds of rich media over a wide area network (WAN). The new features in Cisco ISR G2 include video streaming and on-demand services support. Deployment and maintenance processes have been simplified, and network performance and energy management improved over the previous generation of routers. Cisco Integrated Service Routers Generation 2 (ISR G2) improve on Cisco's range of "branch office routers" by integrating multiple network services into a single platform and providing services that previously required additional hardware to run. The Cisco ISR G2 router families include the following models listed from smallest to largest form factor: Cisco 800 Series Routers (Cisco 860, Cisco 880, Cisco 890) Cisco 1900 Series Routers (Cisco 1941, Cisco 1941W),like CISCO1921/K9 Cisco 2900 Series Routers (Cisco 2901, Cisco 2911, Cisco 2921, Cisco 2951),like CISCO2901/K9 Cisco 3900 Series Routers (Cisco 3925, Cisco 3945),like CISCO3925/K9

Different ISR G2 router models have form factors akin to the Cisco 1800, Cisco 2800 and Cisco 3800 series routers they are meant to replace. The ISR G2 routers introduce support for new hardware components including the following: More onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports Console over USB using a micro USB form factor Internal Services Modules (replaces AIM) Services Modules (replaces network modules) EHWIC slots (replaces HWIC slots) PVDM3 modules

Cisco sells adaptors that allow older network modules to fit service module (SM) slots. PVDM2 modules can be inserted into PVDM3 slots by using a PVDM2 to PVDM3 adapter. The PVDM3 modules are optimized for video and include the following form factors:

Cisco IOS 15.0 supports the ISR G2 routers with a single universal image. Cisco reduced the feature sets to four individual features sets in Cisco IOS 15.0. The capabilities of the purchased feature sets will be unlocked when the license is applied to the router.